Liver disease — MCQs

A 55-year-old woman presents to the office complaining of leg ulcers for the past 6 months. She has a chronic history of severe rheumatoid arthritis controlled with methotrexate. She does not drink alcohol or smoke cigarettes. Her vitals are normal. Her lungs are clear to auscultation. The abdomen is soft and non-tender with a palpable spleen tip on inspiration. Skin examination shows scattered ulcers on the legs in various stages of healing. Additionally, metacarpophalangeal and proximal interphalangeal joints are tender. Varicose veins are not observed. Laboratory results are as follows: Hemoglobin 10.5 g/dL MCV 74 fl Platelets 226,000/mm3 White blood cells 2500/mm3 Neutrophils 20% Alanine aminotransferase 36 U/L Aspartate aminotransferase 39 U/L Creatinine 1.0 mg/dL HIV test is negative. Which of the following is the most likely cause of this patient's condition?

A 56-year-old African American presents to the emergency department due to abdominal pain, fatigue, and weight loss over the past 3 months. He has a long-standing history of chronic hepatitis B virus infection complicated by cirrhosis. On examination, he has jaundice, leg edema, and a palpable mass in the right upper abdominal quadrant. Abdominal ultrasound shows a 3-cm liver mass with poorly defined margins and coarse, irregular internal echoes. Lab results are shown: Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) 90 U/L Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) 50 U/L Total bilirubin 2 mg/dL Albumin 3 g/dL Alkaline phosphatase 100 U/L Alpha-fetoprotein 600 ng/mL Which of the following is a feature of this patient's condition?

A 48-year-old homeless male presents to the ED because he hasn’t felt well recently. He states that he has been feeling nauseous and extremely weak over the past few days. He has several previous admissions for alcohol intoxication and uses heroin occasionally. His temperature is 100.9°F (38.3°C), blood pressure is 127/89 mmHg, and pulse is 101/min. His physical examination is notable for palmar erythema, tender hepatomegaly, and gynecomastia. His laboratory findings are notable for: AST: 170 U/L ALT: 60 U/L GGT: 400 (normal range: 0-45 U/L) Alkaline phosphatase: 150 IU/L Direct bilirubin: 0.2 mg/dL Total bilirubin: 0.8 mg/dL WBC: 10,500 Serum iron: 100 µg/dL TIBC: 300 µg/dL (normal range: 250–370 µg/dL) Serum acetaminophen screen: Negative Serum AFP: 6 ng/mL (normal range: < 10ng/mL) Which of the following is the most likely cause of this patient’s symptoms?

A 47-year-old man presents with a history of a frequent unpleasant crawling sensation in both of his legs accompanied by an urge to move his legs for the last 6 months. He continuously moves his legs to provide him with partial relief from the unpleasant feelings in his legs. The symptoms are especially severe during the night or while lying down in bed after returning from work. These symptoms occur 3–5 days per week. He also complains of significant daytime fatigue and sleep disturbances on most days of the week. He is advised to take a polysomnography test, which reveals periodic limb movements (PLMs) during his sleep. Which of the following conditions is most associated with secondary restless legs syndrome?

A 48-year-old man presents to the emergency department with shortness of breath. He reports that 6 months ago he was able to walk several miles without stopping. Yesterday, he became short of breath walking from his bed to the bathroom. He also endorses worsening abdominal distension and leg swelling, which he reports is new from several months ago. The patient has a past medical history of hypertension and hyperlipidemia. He admits to drinking 6-8 beers daily for the past 10 years. On physical exam, the patient has moderate abdominal distension and pitting edema to the knee. Crackles are present at the bilateral bases. Laboratory testing reveals the following: Hemoglobin: 13.4 g/dL Mean corpuscular volume (MCV): 102 μm³ Leukocyte count: 11,200/mm³ with normal differential Platelet count: 256,000/mm³ Serum: Na+: 137 mEq/L Cl-: 100 mEq/L K+: 4.2 mEq/L HCO3-: 25 mEq/L BUN: 18 mg/dL Glucose: 126 mg/dL Creatinine: 0.9 mg/dL Alkaline phosphatase: 88 U/L Aspartate aminotransferase (AST): 212 U/L Alanine aminotransferase (ALT): 104 U/L Which of the following is the best next step in management?

A 52-year-old man comes to the physician because his skin has been progressively yellowing for the past 4 weeks. He also reports low appetite and difficulty fitting into his pants because of his swollen legs over the past several months. There is no personal or family history of serious illness. He does not smoke and drinks 1 to 2 beers on special occasions. He used to be sexually active with multiple female partners but has lost interest in sexual intercourse recently. He is 178 cm (5 ft 10 in) tall and weighs 68 kg (150 lb); his BMI is 22 kg/m2. Vital signs are within normal limits. Physical examination shows yellowing of the skin and sclera as well as erythema of the palms. There is bilateral enlargement of breast tissue. Cardiopulmonary examinations show no abnormalities. The abdomen is distended. The liver is palpated 2 to 3 cm below the right costal margin. On percussion of the left abdomen, a thrill can be felt on the right side. Hepatojugular reflux is absent. There is bilateral edema below the knees. Which of the following is the most likely underlying cause of this patient's condition?

A 48-year-old man presents to his primary care physician with a 6-month history of increasing joint pain and stiffness. He says that the pain is primarily located in his knees and occurs in sharp bursts that are accompanied by redness and warmth. His past medical history is significant for diabetes though he is not currently taking any medications. He also suffers from occasional diarrhea with fatty stools. Physical exam reveals mild swelling and redness in his knees bilaterally. Furthermore, he is found to be very tan despite the fact that he says he stays out of the sun. He notes that he has always been significantly more tan than anyone else in his family. This patient is most likely predisposed to which of the following diseases?

A 67-year-old man presents with fatigue, progressive abdominal distention and yellow skin coloration for the past 2 weeks. He denies fever, chills, or other symptoms. Past medical history is unremarkable. He reports heavy alcohol consumption for the past several years but says he quit recently. On physical examination, the patient appears jaundiced and is ill-appearing. There is shifting dullness present on abdominal percussion with a positive fluid wave. Sclera are icteric. Bilateral gynecomastia is present. Laboratory findings are significant for the following: Hgb 13 g/dL Leukocyte count 4,500/mm3 Platelets 86,000/mm3 Aspartate transaminase (AST) 108 U/L Alanine transaminase (ALT) 55 U/L GGT 185 U/L Urea 23 mg/dL Iron 120 μg/dL Ferritin 180 μg/dL Transferrin saturation 40% Which of the following is the most likely diagnosis in this patient?

A 54-year-old man with alcoholism comes to the emergency department because of vomiting blood for 6 hours. He has had 3–4 episodes in which he has vomited dark red blood during this period. He has had no epigastric pain or tarry stools. On arrival, his temperature is 37.3°C (99.1°F), pulse is 134/min, and blood pressure is 80/50 mm Hg. He is resuscitated with 0.9% saline and undergoes an emergency upper endoscopy, which shows actively bleeding varices. Band ligation of the varices is done and hemostasis is achieved. He is diagnosed with Child class B cirrhosis. He is concerned about the possibility of recurrence of such an episode. He is asked to abstain from alcohol, to which he readily agrees. In addition to non-selective beta-blocker therapy, which of the following is the most appropriate recommendation to prevent future morbidity and mortality from this condition?

A 56-year-old woman with a history of alcoholic cirrhosis and recurrent esophageal varices who recently underwent transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) placement is brought to the emergency room by her daughter due to confusion and agitation. Starting this morning, the patient has appeared sleepy, difficult to arouse, and slow to respond to questions. Her temperature is 97.6°F (36.4°C), blood pressure is 122/81 mmHg, pulse is 130/min, respirations are 22/min, and oxygen saturation is 98% on room air. She repeatedly falls asleep and is combative during the exam. Laboratory values are notable for a potassium of 3.0 mEq/L. The patient is given normal saline with potassium. Which of the following is the most appropriate treatment for this patient?